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The Trichomonad Hydrogenosome

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Biology of Parasitism

Abstract

Trichomonads are deep-branching protists that are thought to be early-diverging eukaryotes (Sogin, 1991). These organisms belong to the phylum Parabasalia which encompasses both non-parasitic and parasitic trichomonads. The two best studied parasitic trichomonads are the cattle-infective parasite, Tritrichomonas foetus and the human-infective parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. These parasites are flagellated, extracellular organisms that are sexually transmitted and reside in the urogenital tracts of their hosts. Over 150 million cases of human trichomoniasis are reported each year and significant financial losses are frequently suffered due to trichomoniasis in cattle, making these parasites important in both the medical and agricultural communities. Aside from their medical and agricultural importance, a number of unusual biochemical properties of Trichomonas have captured the attention of scientists. The appeal of trichomonads from a biological viewpoint stems, in large part, from properties that reflect both their primitive nature and parasitic lifestyle. For example, trichomonads lack two organelles typically found in eukaryotes, the mitochondrion and the peroxisome, but instead contain an organelle involved in carbohydrate metabolism called the hydrogenosome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Sabrina D. Dyall & Patricia J. Johnson

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  1. Sabrina D. Dyall
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  2. Patricia J. Johnson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Christian Tschudi

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Edward J. Pearce

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Dyall, S.D., Johnson, P.J. (2000). The Trichomonad Hydrogenosome. In: Tschudi, C., Pearce, E.J. (eds) Biology of Parasitism. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4622-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4622-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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